Page 2, The Loafer • December 24, 2013
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December 24, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 3
Volume 28 Issue #3
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Page 4, The Loafer • December 24, 2013 “Auld  Lang  Syneâ€?  is  a  Scots  poem  written  by  Robert  Burns  in  1788  and  set  to  the  tune  of  a  traditional  folk  song.  It  is  well  known  in  many  countries,  especially  in  the  English-Ââ€?speaking  world,  its  traditional  use  being  to  celebrate  the  start  of  the  New  Year  at  the  stroke  of  midnight.  By  extension,  it  is  also  sung  at  funerals,  graduations  and  as  a  farewell  or  ending  to  other  occasions.  The  international  Boy  Scout  youth  movement,  in  many  countries,  uses  it  as  a  close  to  jamborees  and  other  functions. The  song’s  Scots  title  may  be  translated  into  English  literally  as  “old  long  sinceâ€?,  or  more  idiomatically,  “long  long  agoâ€?,  “days  gone  byâ€?  or  “old  timesâ€?.  Consequently  “For ƒ—Ž† ŽƒÂ?‰ •›Â?‡dzǥ ĥ ‹– ƒ’’‡ƒ”• ‹Â? –Š‡ Ď?‹”•– Ž‹Â?‡ ‘ˆ –Š‡ …Š‘”—•ǥ might  be  loosely  translated  as  “for  (the  sake  of)  old  timesâ€?. The  phrase  “Auld  Lang  Syneâ€?  is  also  used  in  similar  poems  by  Robert  Ayton(1570–1638),  Allan  Ramsay  (1686–1757),  and  James  Watson  (1711)  as  well  as  older  folk  songs  predating  Burns.  Matthew  Fitt  uses  the  phrase  “In  the  days  of  auld  lang  syneâ€?  as  the  equivalent  of  “Once  upon  a  time...â€?  in  his  retelling  of  fairy  tales  in  the  Scots  language. Robert  Burns  sent  a  copy  of  the  original  song  to  the  Scots  Musical  Museumwith  the  remark,  “The  following  song,  an  old  song,  of  the  olden  times,  and  which  has  never  been  in  print,  nor  even  in  manuscript  until  I  took  it  down  from  an  old  man.â€?  Some  of  the  lyrics  were  indeed  “collectedâ€?  rather  than  composed  by  the  poet;  the  ballad  “Old  Long  Syneâ€?  printed  in  1711  by  James  Watson  shows  considerable  •‹Â?‹Žƒ”‹–› ‹Â? –Š‡ Ď?‹”•– ˜‡”•‡ ƒÂ?† –Š‡ …Š‘”—• –‘ —”Â?•ǯ Žƒ–‡” ’‘‡Â?ÇĄ ƒÂ?† ‹• ƒŽÂ?‘•– certainly  derived  from  the  same  “old  songâ€?. Should  Old  Acquaintance  be  forgot, and  never  thought  upon; Š‡ Ď?ŽƒÂ?‡• ‘ˆ ‘˜‡ ‡š–‹Â?‰—‹•Š‡†ǥ and  fully  past  and  gone: Is  thy  sweet  Heart  now  grown  so  cold, that  loving  Breast  of  thine; Šƒ– –Š‘— …ƒÂ?•– Â?‡˜‡” ‘Â?…‡ ”‡Ď?Ž‡…– On  Old  long  syne. CHORUS: On  Old  long  syne  my  Jo, On  Old  long  syne, Šƒ– –Š‘— …ƒÂ?•– Â?‡˜‡” ‘Â?…‡ ”‡Ď?Ž‡…–ǥ On  Old  long  syne. It  is  a  fair  supposition  to  attribute  the  rest  of  the  poem  to  Burns  himself. There  is  some  doubt  as  to  whether  the  melody  used  today  is  the  same  one  Burns  originally  intended,  but  it  is  widely  used  in  Scotland  and  in  the  rest  of  the  world. Singing  the  song  on  Hogmanay  or  New  Year’s  Eve  very  quickly  became  a  Scots  custom  that  soon  spread  to  other  parts  of  the  British  Isles.  As  Scots  (not  to  mention  English,  Welsh  and  Irish  people)  emigrated  around  the  world,  they  took  the  song  with  them. A  manuscript  of  “Auld  Lang  Syneâ€?  is  held  in  the  permanent  collection  of  The  Lilly  Library  at  Indiana  University  in  Bloomington,  Indiana. “Auld  Lang  Syneâ€?  is  traditionally  sung  at  the  conclusion  of  New  Year  gatherings  in  Scotland  and  around  the  world,  especially  in  English-Ââ€?speaking  countries. It  is  common  practice  that  everyone  joins  hands  with  the  person  next  to  them  –‘ ˆ‘”Â? ƒ ‰”‡ƒ– …‹”…Ž‡ ƒ”‘—Â?† –Š‡ †ƒÂ?…‡ Ď?Ž‘‘”Ǥ – –Š‡ „‡‰‹Â?Â?‹Â?‰ ‘ˆ –Š‡ Žƒ•– Â˜Â‡Â”Â•Â‡ÇĄ everyone  crosses  their  arms  across  their  breast,  so  that  the  right  hand  reaches  out  to  the  neighbour  on  the  left  and  vice  versa.  When  the  tune  ends,  everyone  rushes  to  the  middle,  while  still  holding  hands.  When  the  circle  is  re-Ââ€?established,  everyone  turns  under  the  arms  to  end  up  facing  outwards  with  hands  still  joined. In  countries  other  than  Scotland  the  hands  are  often  crossed  from  the  beginning  of  the  song  at  variance  with  Scottish  custom.  The  Scottish  practice  was  demonstrated  by  the  Queen  at  the  Millennium  Dome  celebrations  for  the  year  2000.  The  English  press  berated  her  for  not  “properlyâ€?  crossing  her  arms,  unaware  that  she  was  correctly  following  the  Scottish  tradition. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auld_Lang_Syne
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December 24, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 5
Burns’ original Scots verse
English translation (minimalist)
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
and never brought to mind ?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne ?
and old lang syne ?
CHORUS:
CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my jo,
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
for auld lang syne.
And surely ye’ll be your pint-‐stowp !
And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !
and surely I’ll be mine !
and surely I’ll buy mine !
And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
for auld lang syne.
CHORUS
CHORUS
We twa hae run about the braes,
We two have run about the slopes,
ǯ ϐ Ǣ
and picked the daisies ϐ Ǣ
ǯ ǯ ϐ ǡ
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
sin auld lang syne.
since auld lang syne.
CHORUS
CHORUS
We twa hae paidl’d i’ the burn,
We two have paddled in the stream,
frae morning sun till dine ;
from morning sun till dine† ;
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
But seas between us broad have roared
sin auld lang syne.
since auld lang syne.
CHORUS
CHORUS
ǯ ǡ ϐ Ǩ
And there’s a hand my trusty friend !
and gie’s a hand o’ thine !
And give me a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll tak a right gude-‐willy waught,
And we’ll take a right good-‐will draught,
for auld lang syne.
for auld lang syne.
CHORUS
CHORUS
Page 6, The Loafer • December 24, 2013
A Christmas Story Barter Theatre
Through December 29th As the hectic holiday season barrels toward the end of the year, don’t forget that Barter Theatre has the perfect way to unwind from all the madness. “A Christmas Story”
is playing on the main stage now through December 29. Bring your family and holiday guests to Barter and watch the antics of the Parker family as the classic Christmas tale comes to life on stage in this high-‐energy, uplifting production. Back by popular demand, the show features a mostly new cast with exciting new direction by Richard Rose. Gary Aday of the Washington County News praised the cast, led by Nicholas Piper (adult Ralphie) and Justin Tyler Lewis (young Ralphie). “Director Richard Rose has utilized a wonderful cast of Barter stalwarts,” said Aday. “Tricia Matthews is quite splendid as their mother, as is Nick Koesters as their Old Man, both completely realized stage characters, inhabiting the moment without any dependence ϐ Ǥdz “You’ve probably watched the movie umpteen times, maybe you saw the play at Barter Theatre last year, but ‘A Christmas Story’ ... is ϐ ǡdz Robert McKinney of the Bristol
Herald Courier. “It is just different enough yet retains all the warmth and charm woven into the original story by author Jean Shepherd.” The reviews agree that “A Christmas Story” at Barter is something that should go on your holiday list, and performance dates leading up to and after Christmas Day leave plenty of chances to check it (twice!). Catch “A Christmas Story” at any of the
following times: Thursday, December 19 at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm Friday, December 20 at 8:00 pm Saturday, December 21 at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm Sunday, December 22 at 3:00 pm Monday, December 23 at 7:30 pm Tuesday, December 24 at 2:00 pm Thursday, December 26 at 2:00
pm and 7:30 pm Friday, December 27 at 8:00 pm Saturday, December 28 at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm Sunday, December 29 at 3:00 pm Tickets are available at bartertheatre.com or by calling 276-‐628-‐3991. Photo: Justin Tyler Lewis, Nick Koesters, Tricia Matthews, Nicholas Piper and Abbey C. Elliott in Barter Theatre’s “A Christmas Story.”
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'HFHPEHU ‡ 7KH /RDIHU 3DJH
Dance with the Sharks
Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies New Year’s Eve Ripley’s  Aquarium  of  the  Smokies  will  ring  in  the  New  Year  with  its  “14th  Annual  Dance  with  the  Sharks  New  Year’s  Eve  Party.â€?   Guests  will  have  the  opportunity  to  explore  the  underwater  world  of  Ripley’s  Aquarium  of  the  Smokies  while  they  party  the  night  away  with  10,000  exotic  sea  creatures. The  New  Year’s  Eve  Party  features: Incredible   Band   featuring  Andy  Childs  Band   Heavy  Hors  d’oeuvres  (9  to  11  pm)   Carving  Station.  Shrimp  Cocktail  .Stuffed  Mushrooms.  Fruit  &  Cheese.     Elegant  Desserts Personal  Souvenir  Photo Champagne  Toast  &  Gatlinburg  Fireworks  at  Midnight This  year’s  party  will  features  the   incredible  Andy  Childs  Band  who  present   a  power-Ââ€?packed  variety  of  ‰”‡ƒ– Â?—•‹… •’ƒÂ?Â?‹Â?‰ Ď?‹˜‡ Â†Â‡Â…ÂƒÂ†Â‡Â•ÇĄ
specializing  in  early  Rock’n  Roll,  Rhythm  &  Blues,  Classic  Rock,  70’s,  80’s,  90’s,  and  today’s  music,  plus  some  country  favorites,    They  were  recently  featured  on  America’s  Idol’s   Next  Great  American  Band  on  Fox  Television,  and  have  been  the  house  band   and  music  directors  for  USA  Network’s  Nashville  Star,  and  CMT’s  Can  You  Duet  and  Next  Superstar.  Childs   is  currently  appearing  in  ABC’s  dramatic  series  Nashville.    “It’s  always  a  spectacular  event.  Our  party  is  unique,  fun  and  great  for  the  entire  family.  You  can  dance,  eat  and  party  throughout  the  aquarium  until  1  a.m.,  plus  just  prior  to  midnight  we  all  go  out  to  the  aquarium’s  plaza  and  watch  –Š‡ …‹–› ‘ˆ ƒ–Ž‹Â?„—”‰ǯ• Ď?‹”‡™‘”Â?• display  and  ball  drop,â€?   said  Ryan  DeSear,  general  manager  of  Ripley’s  Aquarium  of  the  Smokies. The  party  price  is  $149.99  per Â
couple,  $79.99  for  singles,  and  $25.99  for  children  (3-Ââ€?17)  plus  sales  tax.     The  aquarium  is  located  at  –”ƒˆĎ?‹… Ž‹‰Š– ͓͡ ‘Â? –Š‡ ƒ”Â?™ƒ› ‹Â? Gatlinburg,  TN  and  is  open  365  days  a  year.   The  Aquarium  closes  to  the Â
public  at  9  p.m.  on  New  Year’s  Eve  and  opens  to  party  guests  at  9:01  p.m.   For  reservations  call  888-Ââ€?240-Ââ€? 1358  or  see  us  on  the  web  at  www. ripleysaquariumofthesmokies. com.
Page 8, The Loafer • December 24, 2013
Bones Jugs N Harmony Acoustic Coffeehouse New Year’s Eve
Bones, Jug, Xylophone, kazoos, steel pan resonator guitar, banjo, double bass, drums, all sorts of noise makers. These are just some of the instruments we play around with at our shows. The group began with the dream of throwing an energetic party with acoustic instruments, a high quality, clearly audible musical experience that could be had on street corners, on the beach, in living rooms, or ϐ Ǥ We started with some old xylophone rags, featuring Cody Jensen, and have since built a large repertoire of originals and covers, old and new. As old as Leroy Carr’s “Barrelhouse Women”, Memphis Jugband’s “Sugar Puddin’”, and the classic “Salty Dog Blues,” and as new as the Beastie Boys’ “Girls,” Bone Thugs N Harmony’s “Crossroads,” and Abigail
Washburn’s “Divine Bell.” We are ϐ and string bands, both new and old, blues, ragtime, bluegrass, and much more. We perform calypso tunes featuring Tim Berg on steel pan, Mississippi John Hurt tunes featuring the guitar work of JP Goguen, and a slew of bluegrass standards and not-‐so-‐standards. With our extensive collection of instruments (including, xylophone, steel pan, resophonic guitar, upright bass, trap kit, jug, bones, quijada, horns, whistles, banjo, and more), our large spectrum ϐ ǡ thoughtful songwriting we embark on our journey of creating a new sound to share with all who will lend an ear. We pride ourselves on being seriously silly, it’s a commitment to fun. We want to party. We want,
we want to party. With you. And your friends. And other people that neither of us know. We’re hoping we can all dance till we fall down, sing till our voices cannot be found, and smile till our faces fall off. Bones. We will be bringing in the New Year on Tuesday December 31st at The Acoustic Coffeehouse in Ǥ ϐ tour, “Bone Voyage,” which spans 11 states in 21 days and is in support ϐ ϐ ǡ our EP “Bones,” which features 5 original songs recorded live in our hometown, Urbana, IL. Website: www. Bonesjugsnharmony.com Facebook: https://www. facebook.com/bonesjugs Instagram: @BonesJugs
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Bryan Bielanski Acoustic Coffeehouse January 1st
Since the late nineties Bryan Bielanski has been the frontman of the Charlotte, NC rock duo Angwish and has been rocking the world with his unique brand of hard hitting alternative rock. Now Bryan is stepping out with an equally energetic punk tinged solo folk rock 2014 World Tour. The power in Bryan’s vocals and lyrics convey a sense of urgency and sincerity in the songs and often have reduced audience members to tears and speechless awe with the sheer emotional delivery of the lyrics. Bryan Bielanski has accomplished some remarkable achievements with Angwish. In addition to countless east coast tours since 1998, Angwish toured Europe in 2008 and 2010 and in 2012 went on an epic 6 month North American tour playing over 100 shows as nomadic rockers!! They also have been sponsored by Sam Ash music stores and had songs featured in European Red Bull advertisements and sporting events! In 2011 Bryan won the “Most Promising Artist” award and was nominated for best songwriter in the Charlotte Music Awards.
December 24, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 9
Page 10, The Loafer • December 24, 2013
Old Christmas
Fort Watauga January 4th & 5th Christmas isn’t over yet! Come to Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area and see how our colonial ancestors celebrated a holiday called “Old Christmas”. In Colonial America, Christmas was celebrated as a twelve day holiday with many traditions and customs. Does The Twelve Days of Christmas sound familiar? These twelve days of feasting, and merrymaking ended on January 6th or “Twelfth Night” with a grand celebration. On Saturday, January 4th from 10am-‐4pm and Sunday, January 5th from 10am-‐3pm the Washington County Militia will hold their monthly Militia Muster and Old Christmas Celebration. As you walk through the gates of Fort Watauga you will travel back in time to an 18th century Old Dz ϐ dzǤ in the fort will be the setting of
Christmas traditions as celebrated by the settlers of different cultures on the colonial frontier. Witness such customs as English Christmas Guns, the Irish Holly Wreath, the German Tannenbaum, and the Dutch Sinterklaas. See how our Christmas practices of today are steeped in these old world traditions. Get the most out of the Holiday Season and visit Sycamore Shoals State Historic Site for a fun, entertaining, and educational family outing. Arrive ready to be ϐ Ǥ It’s an event that is sure to become a tradition with your family year after year. Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area is located at 1651 W. Elk Avenue in Elizabethton, TN. For more information contact the Park at 423-‐543-‐5808 or
visit our websites at www. sycamoreshoalstn.org or http://
tnstateparks.com/parks/about/ sycamore-‐shoals.
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December 24, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 11
“A ‘Tender’ Tennessee Christmas” George L. Carter Railroad Museum December 28th East Tennessee State University’s George L. Carter Railroad Museum will hold its December Heritage Day on Saturday, Dec. 28, with “A ‘Tender’ Tennessee Christmas.” The event, which will be held from 10 a.m.-‐3 p.m., will honor steam-‐ and diesel-‐powered trains
in Tennessee, including their “tenders,” or coal cars. Dr. Fred Alsop, director of the museum, explains, “Within ϐ mountainous areas situated around the lower Appalachians and the Great Smoky range, as
well as the mid-‐state high plateau. From Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga to the Cumberland
ǡ ϐ in the gorgeous but remote terrain. The western area of the state was ϐ ǡ Ǯ ǯ between the Midwest and the South. This resulted in a variety of necessary equipment and operations, from major companies to narrow-‐gauge industrial shortlines.” The museum will honor predecessors to the current CSX and Norfolk Southern lines active in the “early days,” such as standard gauge railways like ϐ ǡ ǡ Central, Louisville & Nashville, Chattanooga, Nashville & St. Louis and Tennessee Central, as well as such narrow-‐gauge logging lines as the East Tennessee & Western North Carolina, or “Tweetsie” line. Geoff Stunkard, coordinator of the museum’s Heritage Days program, says, “There is a certain charm to railroading here in Tennessee, and we thought the name of this Heritage Day’s exhibit went along with the season and the region.” They chose the name as a reference to the title of a song by popular musical artist Amy Grant. Stunkard adds, “Every railroad being built here faced the reality of the challenging terrain in the east and the need for speed in the west.
The legendary Casey Jones was from Jackson, and who can forget the Chattanooga Choo-‐Choo? This is a fun way to conclude the 2013 Heritage Days series; we’re looking forward to it.” The museum volunteers are creating a Tweetsie scale model exhibit, which encompasses 1,300 square feet. Construction of this display is ongoing, but tours of the room are available during Heritage Day. Members of the Mountain Empire Model Railroaders (MEMRR) club and the George L. Carter Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society are coordinating the program. The Carter Railroad Museum is open on Saturdays from 10 a.m.-‐3 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are welcomed. The ϐ ϐ the back entrance to the Campus
Center Building at 176 Ross Drive. For online information about the museum, visit http:// johnsonsdepot .com/glcarter/ cartermuseum.htm. The MEMRR club works in conjunction with the museum to demonstrate and maintain the model layouts, museum exhibits and other projects. Visit www. memrr.org to learn more about the group. For more information about the event, contact Alsop at (423) 439-‐6838 or alsopf@etsu.edu. For disability accommodations, call the ϐ at (423) 439-‐8346.
Page 12, The Loafer • December 24, 2013
Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area January 2014 Events
Watauga Valley Fife & Drum Corps Saturdays 10:00 am – 12 pm The Fife & Drum Corps performs at historical events, dedications, and parades. This group is open to anyone ages 13 & up. Musical experience is welcome but not necessary; just come with a willingness to learn. Meet our volunteer coordinator John Large at the Sycamore Shoals Visitors Center. Lessons are free of charge, just call and let us know you’re coming! Sycamore Shoals “First Hike”-‐ Carter Mansion Tour By Reservation Only Wednesday, January 1 11:00 am Join us for an enjoyable midmorning tour of the Carter Mansion on Wednesday, January 1st. Visit this elegant frontier home, festively decorated for the holidays, and learn about the seasonal traditions of the 18th Century. Dress appropriately for the weather as we will be taking a casual stroll from the Visitor Center to the Carter Mansion. Tour will begin at 11:00 a.m. by reservation only. To make a reservation, call 423-‐543-‐5808. Tour will be subject to cancelation due to inclement weather. For
cancellation information call 423-‐ 543-‐6140. For more information about events with Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area, visit www. sycamoreshoalstn.org. Old Christmas: Militia Muster at Fort Watauga Saturday, January 4 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Sunday, January 5 10:00 am – 3:00 pm Christmas isn’t over yet! European migrants brought Old World holiday traditions to America, from the Dutch Sinterklaas to the Twelve Days of Christmas. Discover the English, German, Scotch-‐Irish, and Dutch roots of our modern holiday celebrations. Contact the park for detailed schedule Shape Note Singing -‐ Led by Don Wiley Sunday, January 19 January – March, June, August -‐ November Sing the shapes! In this early musical tradition, “shapes” represented each note of the do-‐re-‐mi scale. Although many Appalachian frontiersmen could not read, they achieved beautiful four-‐part harmonies through this
ϐ music. We invite you to join “The Old Fields Singers” for an experience you will not forget. Old Time Music Jam – Led by Art Lang Sunday, January 26 1:30 pm – 4 pm Enjoy the rich musical traditions of our region each month. Old time musicians of all levels are welcome. Don’t play an instrument? Come on over, kick back, and enjoy the tunes! Visitors Center Hours: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Tuesday through Saturday 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM Sunday Closed Mondays Our Visitors Center is closed on most State holidays. Park grounds are open from dawn until dusk. For more information contact: Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area 1651 West Elk Avenue Elizabethton, TN 37643 (423) 543-‐5808 www.sycamoreshoalstn.org http://tnstateparks.com/parks/ about/sycamore-‐shoals
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Hands On! Regional Museum
January Calendar of Events Art Studio Schedule Fabulous Footwear: Start the New Year on the right foot by designing your own high heel, cowboy boot or tennis shoe that is just your style! Chinese Lanterns: Ring in the Chinese New Year by designing a Chinese lantern. As we celebrate the year of the Horse, learn some Chinese symbols to decorate your lantern. Special Events Wednesday, January 1st -‐ Hands On! will be closed for New Year’s Day Thursday, January 2nd -‐ Sunday, January 19th -‐ Newton’s Antics Celebrate Sir Isaac Newton’s birthday in the Eastman Discovery Lab this week. Discover Newton’s Three Laws of Motion with our tower test, eraser racers, and the water whirl. The Eastman Discovery Lab will be open by announcement periodically throughout each day. Sunday, January 5th -‐ Rainforest Adventure Exhibit Closes Be sure to visit this wonderful exhibit before it closes! Explore rainforests from around the world in this traveling exhibit featuring over 40 interactive components: explore a gorilla nest, climb a 9’ Kapok tree, weave on a loom, and climb through a tree log to discover animals that make their home there.
Tuesday, January 21st -‐ Sunday, February 2nd -‐ Marvelous Magnets Discover how magnets work, where they come from, and why Earth is considered a giant magnet. Test various items for magnetism and play with some magnetic gadgets. The Eastman Discovery Lab will be open by announcement periodically throughout each day. (***Please note that this program contains neodymium magnets which may inhibit the proper function of pacemakers.) Wednesday, January 22nd, 9:30 am -‐ 12:00 pm -‐ Little Newton Workshop Sir Isaac Newton’s birthday is this month, so let’s celebrate! Discover the laws of physics with Newton’s inertia beads, an amazing egg drop challenge, building and launching a ϐ ǡ a centripetal force penny experiment. A healthy snack will be included as well. Cost $10 for members, $12 for non-‐members. Ages 7-‐12. Payment is required with registration by Wednesday, January 8th. To register, please call 423-‐434-‐4263 ext. 100, T-‐F 9-‐5 or e-‐mail main@handsonmuseum.org.
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Tickets for the 2nd Annual Asheville and offers hard-‐edged, January Jams at the Barter Theatre soulful rock music bursting-‐at-‐ are now on sale and going fast. This the-‐seams. Drawing much of their series will include 7 total concerts, ambience from 70’s classic rock, starting January 9, and run every they’re a band with an explosive Friday and Saturday during ǡ ϐ ǡ January. “We are excited to expand mood-‐altering keys and a rock-‐solid the number of shows offered rhythm section. Their infections from 4 to 7 this year after the energy and authentic approach overwhelmingly positive response match them well with headlining last year,” explains Sara Cardinale, band, St. Paul and The Broken Special Events Coordinator for Bones. Based out of Alabama, St. the ACVB. “The lineup this year Paul and The Broken Bones deliver has generated quite the buzz, and soul mixed with grit, elemental highlights Abingdon as an up-‐and-‐coming music destination.” The ϐ a Thursday show kick-‐ off, as well as a Friday and Saturday concert, for a total of three nationally acclaimed acts on stage. The genres include soul, blues, rock, bluegrass, country and Americana roots music. There’s something for every music lover in this ǡ ϐ weekend’s schedule is as follows: Thursday, January 9th-‐ St. Paul and The Broken Bones with The Broadcast Opening act, The Broadcast, hails from Jim Lauderdale ST. Paul and The Broken Bones
rhythm, fabulous brass section and ϐ crowd. Lead singer, Paul Janeway has an extroverted performing style that enraptures his audience. “I’m going to be dancing, getting in the aisles,” he says. “That’s just the way we do it. It really takes me back to church. There’s not a lot of difference. When I get on stage, it’s, ‘All right, it’s time to pour it on.’” Friday, January 10th – Jim Lauderdale with Cruz Contreras Cruz Contreras is the front man for the Americana band, The Black Lillies, from Knoxville. His song-‐ writing skills were recognized as they won the Independent Music Award for Best Song-‐ Story in 2012. Contreras has collaborated in the past with Jim Lauderdale, who is the headlining act for the night. Lauderdale is a Grammy® Award winning musician and one of the most respected artists working in the Bluegrass, Country and Americana music communities today. Jim is also in high demand Continued on page 15
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Iris Dement
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as a player, touring with the likes of Lucinda Williams, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Rhonda Vincent and Elvis Costello. Saturday, January 11th – Iris Dement with Beth Snapp Beth Snapp, from Northeast Tennessee opens for Iris Dement. Snapp’s vocals, lyrics, and melodies blend together beautifully into a distinctive acoustic experience. She
delivers a unique singer songwriter feel that is not only crisp and ϐ ǡ truly a testament to her talent. Grammy-‐award winning singer/ songwriter Iris Dement headlines the show. Her style is often described as roots-‐folk as well as country, but no one denies that her songs speak to the heart. She just recently released a new album of ϐ in 16 years, Song of the Delta.
January Jams 2014 is presented by The Abingdon Music Experience, Barter Theatre and ϐ in part by Eastman Credit Union. The series will showcase nationally
recognized artists on stage at the historic Barter Theatre each Friday & Saturday during the month of January, 2014. A limited number of WEEKEND PASSES will be made available, and can be purchased by calling 276-‐628-‐3991. Doors
will open at 7:15pm each night, and shows will start at8:00pm. Tickets vary in price and can be purchased online viawww. bartertheatre.com . For a complete lineup of events, visitwww. abingdonmusicexperience.com .
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First Day Hikes in Southwest VA January 1st
Begin 2014 on the right foot with a New Year’s Day hike in a Virginia State Park as part of America’s State Parks First Day Hikes. First Day Hikes is a national initiative to get people outdoors and into parks. “There’s no better place to begin the year than in one of our 36 state parks,” said Virginia State Parks Director Joe Elton. “This is
our third year participating in the First Day Hikes program, and it’s proven to be a popular and fun way for visitors to enjoy our parks with friends and family and to begin healthy habits of physical activity that we hope they will continue in the days to come.” Self-‐led and ranger-‐led hikes and activities vary by park. For example, Douthat State Park in Millboro will host a hike led by the Alleghany Highlands Master Naturalists, and Mason Neck State Park in Lorton will hold three ranger-‐led hikes of ϐ ǯ observation blinds. A complete list of First Day Hikes and details can be found at http:// bit.ly/2014FDH. In conjunction with First Day Hikes, Virginia State Parks will hold a special photo contest. Prizes include stays in a lodge and a cabin as well as annual passes. For contest information, visit http:// bit.ly/FDHcontest. Virginia State Parks are managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. For more information about Virginia State Parks activities and amenities or to make a reservation for one of the more than 1,800 campsites or 300 climate-‐controlled cabins, call the Virginia State Parks Reservation Center at 800-‐933-‐7275 or visitwww.virginiastateparks.gov. Represented by regional board members of the National Association of State Park Directors, America’s State Parks is an alliance of state park systems in all 50 states, representing more than 6,000 state parks across the nation. Grayson Highlands State Park 829 Grayson Highlands Lane,
Grayson Highlands State Park
Mouth Of Wilson VA 24363 Phone: (276) 579-‐7092 Email Address: graysonhighlands@dcr. virginia.gov 9:00 a.m. – 8 p.m. at Massie Gap Parking Lot Start 2014 off right: with a hike in the fresh air of the new year! Choose your distance. Join us for a two-‐mile hike to the rocks of Wilburn Ridge and turn back there, or continue on with a ranger to complete the eight-‐mile hike to the summit of Mount Rogers. Be sure to dress warmly, as the highlands experience particularly cold and windy weather. Those wishing to complete the full Mount Rogers hike must be in good physical condition, due to the distance and rough terrain. Pack a lunch and bring plenty of water. The views along the trail are fantastic, and we may even see the wild ponies of Grayson Highlands and Jefferson National Forest. Hope to see you there! (In case of inclement weather please contact ϐ Ȍ Hungry Mother State Park 2854 Park Boulevard, Marion VA 24354 Phone: (276) 781-‐7400 Email Address: hungrymother@dcr. virginia.gov 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Discovery Center This is a great chance to make a New Year’s resolution to get outdoors more in 2014! Join a Hungry Mother State Park ranger in hiking the Lake Trail and experience the park in all of it’s winter beauty! Or, stop by the Discovery Center Continued on page 17
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'HFHPEHU ‡ 7KH /RDIHU 3DJH The  Southwest  Virginia  Museum  Historical  State  Park  will  provide  an  informational  pamphlet  for  those  interested  in  taking  a  First  Day  Hike  in  Big  Stone  Gap,  VA.  The  Museum’s  First  Day  Hike  is  a  self-Ââ€? guided  walking  tour  of  the  town  of  Big  Stone  Gap,  focusing  on  sites  of  Š‹•–‘”‹…ƒŽ •‹‰Â?‹Ď?‹…ƒÂ?…‡Ǥ ƒ”–‹…‹’ƒÂ?–• may  pick  up  information  at  the Â
Natural  Tunnel  State  Park
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any  time  on  January  1  to  pick  up  a  First  Day  Hike  brochure.   Running  .5  miles  on  the  Lake  Trail,  this  self-Ââ€? guided  hike  is  easy  and  great  for  people  of  all  ages  and  abilities.     Natural  Tunnel  State  Park 1420  Natural  Tunnel  Parkway,  —ˆĎ?‹‡Ž† ʹ͜ʹ͜͜ Phone:  (276)  940-Ââ€?2674    Email  Address:  naturaltunnel@dcr. virginia.gov 1:30  p.m.  –  3:30  p.m.  –  Visitor  Center  Parking  Lot At  Natural  Tunnel  there  will  be  a  hiking  adventure  through  a  winter  wonderland  leaving  from  the  Visitor  Center.  The  hike  will  take  hikers  out  on  the  Lovers  Leap  trail  to  climb  up  to  the  Lovers  Leap  Pinnacle  to  view  the  tunnel  and  the  surrounding  mountains  from  a  height  of  600  ft  above  the  creek  bed  below.  Throughout  the  hike  visitors  will  have  the  opportunity  to  learn  about  the  historical  and  natural  highlights  of  the  tunnel  and  surrounding  natural  marvels.  Hot  Cocoa,  and  cider  will  be  offered  after  the  hike  at  the  Visitor  Center.  Don’t  forget  to  dress  for  the Â
weather  and  bring  sturdy  shoes  for  hiking.  This  is  a  FREE  program.  New  River  Trail  State  Park 176  Orphanage  DR,  Max  Meadows  VA  24360  Phone:  (276)  699-Ââ€?6778    Email  Address:  newrivertrail@dcr. virginia.gov 10:00  a.m.  –  12:00  p.m.  &  1:00  p.m.  –  3:00  p.m.  –  Foster  Falls Join  us  at  the  Foster  Falls  section  of  the  New  River  Trail  to  embark  on  a  historical  tour.  We  will  be  hiking  in  and  around  Foster  Falls,  Shot  Tower  and  Austinville.  Those  who  attend  please  remember  to  dress  for  weather,  shuttle  services  will  be  provided  for  the  program.  Spaces  are  limited  to  12  participants  for  each  scheduled  time,  pre-Ââ€? registration  is  required  for  this  event. Southwest  Virginia  Museum  State  Park 10  West  1st  Street  North  Big  Stone  Gap  VA  24219  Phone:  (276)  523-Ââ€?1322    Email  Address:  SWVAMuseum@dcr. virginia.gov 10:00  a.m.  –  4:00  p.m.
Museum’s  front  gate  the  day  of  the  hike  or  in  advance  at  the  Museum’s  front  desk.  Wilderness  Road  State  Park 8051  Wilderness  Road,  Ewing  VA  24248  Phone:  (276)  445-Ââ€?3065    Email  Address:  WildernessRoad@dcr. virginia.gov
2:00  p.m.  –  3:00  p.m. Enjoy  a  fresh  new  start  to  a  brand  new  year  with  a  special  winter-Ââ€?themed  ranger-Ââ€?guided  hike  along  the  .75  mile  Indian  Ridge  Trail.  Take  advantage  of  an  informative  brochure  and  listen  as  a  ranger  explains  what  mother  nature  offers  during  our  area’s  coldest  and  harshest  months.
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Studio 12
Arts Depot Juried Spotlight Gallery Exhibit “Studio 12, a group of artists from Lenoir in Caldwell County, North Carolina will be featured ǯ ϐ of 2014 in the Juried Spotlight Gallery. The exhibit is scheduled to run from Thursday, Jan. 2 through Saturday, March 1. A Meet-‐the-‐ Artists-‐Reception is planned for Sunday, Jan. 5, from 2-‐4 p.m. The group’s 12-‐member roster includes seasoned artists who have enjoyed former careers in teaching, nursing, journalism, marketing, ϐ Ǥ have been brought together by a
common desire to increase their ϐ Ǧ individual levels of expertise as painters. Members work in watercolor, acrylic, pen and ink, pastel and mixed media and represent a wide range of subject matter and style. Studio 12 was founded in 2011. Members meet monthly to critique each other’s work and to encourage an exchange of ideas for becoming more and better painters. Field trips to museums and other points of artistic interest are planned to contribute to the artists’ awareness ϐ Ǥ Members include Toni Indicott, Sara Akins, Irene Ridgeway, Jan Pennell, Vaughn Healey, Judy Greene Prevost, Jo Moore, Anne Welch, Carole Childers, Jan Martin,
Shirley Story and Marti Kardol. Also Opening on January 2, 2014 –The Arts Depot’s Members Gallery will showcase the work of 10 Association members. Mary Harrington (Digital Photography): Mary “grew up all over as a Navy brat,” living in DC, Guam, Calif., NC, and her longest residencies in Fauquier and now Abingdon, VA. Mary majored in art at James Madison University and is a retired teacher. Her artistic interests presently lie in trying to see things in unique ways – “playing with light, ǡ ǤǤǤ ϐ usually unnoticed detail.” Mary’s exhibit will concentrate on the use of color, texture, line and positive and negative space. June Henry (oil) Cincinnati-‐born local artist June Henry has some paint in her bloodstream. Not only a cousin of Arizona artist Connie Mullineaux, she is related to international artist and sculptor H. Alvin Sharpe, whose series of seven murals is located on the ceiling of the New Orleans Board of Trade and who
Nancy Garretson-‐”My Little Chickadee”-‐ Woven Sculpture
ϐ in the 1960 Mardi Gras Rex parade. Raising three daughters and a busy work schedule limited June’s
availability to paint. But once retiring and moving to Tennessee Continued on page 19
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from St Petersburg Florida where she grew up, it became possible to pursue her love affair with oil painting. Though also a free-‐lance writer, she believes the adage that a picture can be worth a thousand words. A member of The Art Depot in Abington as well as the 606 Gallery in Bristol, she has also exhibited her work at Mason Gallery & Oak Tree Gallery in Greeneville, Tusculum College’s Old Oak Festival, Jonesborough Days and other regional venues. Settling in the Chuckey area 8 years ago has provided much inspiration. She and her husband enjoy long scenic drives that June enjoys translating to canvas along with scenes from her former Gulf Coast home. Working in her home studio, she is joined by their two cats, who are enthusiastic critics. Although preferring landscapes and seascapes, as a true Gemini she enjoys stepping out of her comfort zone. “I like the challenge of trying new subjects and techniques,” June says. “Some may not evolve as I see them in my mind, but each canvass is an opportunity.” One of her goals is to make art more available and relevant to more people. Kathleen Jacobs (Mixed Media, Found Objects) Kathleen’s earliest memories of collecting found objects was as a child when she would attend auctions every Friday night with her parents in rural West Virginia. Kathleen recalls, “the drive was dizzying, especially for a child who ϐ life in St. Louis... I never really did much with these found treasures, but kept them in an old wooden Velveeta box that belonged to my great-‐aunt, who was as intriguing ϐ Ǥ alongside my hunt for small treasures was my love of words. I was an avid reader, and eventually grew into a writer of poetry, short stories, and personal essays. It’s ϐ the other. When I see an early photograph especially, it’s almost impossible for me to not pick
December 24, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 19 up pen and paper and see what transpires. I am always drawn to the innocence that gets lost along the journey of life, and my work allows me -‐-‐ for just a few minutes -‐-‐ the opportunity to revisit that innocuous naiveté.” “Seven Visions of Winter” presented by the 7 Arts Depot’s Resident Artists This diverse group of artists have each expressed feelings, inspirations and memories of winters past and present using ϐ ǡ ǡ acrylic, fused glass and water media including alcohol ink. Delicate brush strokes in watercolor show the beauty of long blue shadows sometimes seen late in the day while in other works subtle muted ϐ rounded hills of our region. A folk art rendition in acrylic conjures up childhood memories of a snowy day. Alcohol inks and sparkling fused glass pieces suggest the ϐ Ǥ ϐ have created a handsome Polar Bear and a cheerful Chickadee to brighten our days while heavily textured Clay wall vases in soft tones of blue and white suggest that winter can be a time of quiet beauty -‐ a time of hopes, dreams and simple pleasures. The Resident Artists are: Nancy Johnson-‐ Folk Art, Jackie Dolpp – Water media, Joyce Samuel – Water media and Fused Glass, Helen Morgan –Fiber, Sara Reese – Clay and Nancy Garretson-‐ weaver. The Depot Artists Association is Ǧ ϐ that operates the Arts Depot and is dedicated to promoting the arts in the community and features the region’s artists. The Arts Depot is located in the historic Depot Square area of downtown Abingdon, VA. The gallery and artists studios are open Thursday thru Saturday, April through December 10-‐4 pm, January through March 11-‐3 or by appointment. There is no admission charge. For further information, please contact the Arts Depot at (276) 628-‐9091, or e-‐mail at abingdonartsdepot@ eva.org, or visit their web site at www.abingdonartsdepot.org. The Association is supported in part by grants from the Virginia Commission for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Virginia Tourism Corp.
Linda Hamilton-‐”First Snow” Watercolor
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Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area Traditional Arts Winter Workshops 2014
What is a traditional art? The people who lived in this region had a special way of turning everyday objects of survival and necessity into works of art. Through our workshops and wonderful instructors, we strive to keep these unique skills alive. ǡ ϐ ǡ ǡ ϐ Ǧ or just a better understanding of ǡ ϐ something to learn and keep with you forever. A Traditional Art is a skill worth preserving! To hold your place in a workshop, pre-‐registration and payment is required. Please register early to ensure a spot in the class! January Spinning Basics Instructor: Amy Gawthrop Sunday, January 5 1:30 – 4 pm ǣ ̈́ͶͲǤͲͲ ϐ (1st time students in this class) $15.00 for returning students Min: 1 Max: 5 Learning about wool, it’s structure and how it reacts. Wool preparation with hand cards, viking combs and drum carder. Practical on the spinning wheel. Watercolor Painting -‐Landscapes Instructor: Barbara Jernigan
Saturday, January 11 = 9 am – noon Cost: $12 (plus supplies) or $20 (includes supplies) Min: 5 Max: open Learn and practice watercolor techniques and style. Dress to take a short walk outdoors for photos and observations, weather permitting. Watercolor Painting -‐Landscapes Instructor: Barbara Jernigan Saturday, January 18 9 am – noon Cost: $12 (plus supplies) or $20 (includes supplies) Min: 5 Max: open Learn and practice watercolor techniques and style. Dress to take a short walk outdoors for photos and observations, weather permitting. Anyone Can Knit! -‐ Making a Scarf! Instructor: Amy Gawthrop Sunday, January 19 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm Cost: $25.00 Min: 1 Max: 10 You will learn to cast on, cast off, knit and purl, left & right handed knitting, and how to pick up dropped stitches. Bring at least 2 skeins of worsted weight wool in a solid color (if you want a long scarf, you will need at least 3 Ȍ ϐ Ǣ ͓ͺ
knitting needles (no longer than 10”), wood or plastic, straight or circular. Inkle Weaving Instructor: Ronnie Lail Saturday, January 25 9 am – noon Cost: $50.00 includes loom (to keep!) & all supplies Min: 3 Max: 8 $20.00 thread only $10.00 instruction only Learn how to weave wide sashes, narrow bands, and shoelaces on a loom that is light-‐weight and easy to carry around! You can create wonderful patterns through varied placement of colorful thread. Bring scissors. February Raised Bed Gardening Instructor: Ben Hunter Saturday February 1 10 am – 1 pm Cost: No Charge – Registration is NOT necessary for this session It’s not too early to be planning & building your spring garden. Gardener extraordinaire, Ben Hunter, will be joining us to share his experiences & techniques for growing the garden of your dreams! Sponsored by the Northeast Tennessee Master Gardeners. Watercolor Painting – Florals Instructor: Barbara Jernigan Saturday, February 8 9 am – noon Cost: $12 (plus supplies) or $20 (includes supplies) Min: 5 Max: open Learn and practice watercolor techniques and style. Dress to take a short walk outdoors for photos and observations, weather permitting. Watercolor Painting – Florals Instructor: Barbara Jernigan Saturday, February 15 9 am – Continued on page 21
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noon Cost: $12 (plus supplies) or $20 (includes supplies) Min: 5 Max: open Learn and practice watercolor techniques and style. Dress to take a short walk outdoors for photos and observations, weather permitting. Anyone Can Knit! -‐ Making a Scarf Instructor: Amy Gawthrop Sunday, February 16 1:30 pm – 4 pm Cost: $25 Min: 1 Max: 10 You will learn to cast on, cast off, knit and purl, left & right handed knitting, and how to pick up dropped stitches. Bring at least 2 skeins of worsted weight wool in a solid color (if you want a long scarf, you will need at least 3 Ȍ ϐ Ǣ ͓ͺ knitting needles (no longer than 10”), wood or plastic, straight or circular. Call the park to register. Wool Dryer Balls Instructor: Jane Doan Saturday, February 22 9 am -‐ noon Cost: $30 Min: 2 Max: 10 Save energy, reduce waste, and protect your family from chemicals by using environmentally friendly wool dryer balls. In our class we will Create 4-‐6 dryer balls from 100 % wool. Wool dryer balls are an all natural alternative to fabric softeners, and dryer sheets. Dryer balls also shorten drying time and remove wrinkles in the dryer. 100% safe for all laundry including cloth diapers. Bring an old towel. March Vegetable Gardening Instructor: Ben Hunter Saturday March 1 10 am – 1 pm Cost: No Charge – Registration is NOT necessary for this session Gardener extraordinaire, Ben Hunter, will be joining us to share
December 24, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 21 his experiences & techniques for growing the garden of your dreams! Sponsored by the Northeast Tennessee Master Gardeners. Anyone Can Crochet! – Crocheting a Scarf Instructor: Amy Gawthrop Sunday, March 2 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm Cost: $25 Min: 1 Max: 10 You will learn all of the necessary techniques to get you started in the art of crochet! Bring at least 2 skeins of worsted weight solid color yarn (if you want a long scarf, you will need at least 3 skeins) or any ϐ scarf; bring a crochet hook – either size H, I, or J (5, 5.5, or 6 mm) Mixed Media and Watercolor Techniques Instructor: Barbara Jernigan Saturday, March 8 9 am – noon Cost: $12 (plus supplies) or $20 (includes supplies) Min: 5 Max: open Learn and practice watercolor techniques and style. Dress to take a short walk outdoors for photos and observations, weather permitting. Spinning: Beyond the Basics Instructor: Amy Gawthrop Sunday, March 16 1:30 pm – 4 pm ǣ ̈́ͶͲ ϐ ȋͳst time students in this class) Min: 1 Max: 5 $15 for returning students If you are a brand new spinner, or have been dabbling on the spinning wheel for some time; this class is for you! Bring your questions and join Amy for an afternoon of “All Things Spinning!” Mixed Media and Watercolor Techniques Instructor: Barbara Jernigan Saturday, March 22 9 am – noon Cost: $12 (plus supplies) or $20 (includes supplies) Min: 5 Max: open Learn and practice watercolor techniques and style. Dress to take a short walk outdoors for photos and observations, weather permitting. Beginning Chair Bottoming Instructor: Cathy
Broyles Saturday, March 29 9am – 4pm Cost: $30 plus cost of materials – reed & string Min: 5 Max. 10 (pay instructor at start of class for materials) A great way to repair an old favorite or brush up an antique! Find out how to weave the life back
into your old cane furniture. Materials: chair to cane, bucket or dishpan suitable for hot water, scissors, butter knife, 2 old towels. Class sizes are limited, so please register early! To join one or more classes, you must register in advance and pre-‐
pay. Please call the park at (423) 543-‐5808 for more information If you would like to receive updated information throughout the year, please send your email address to jennifer.bauer@ tn.gov or check out www. sycamoreshoalstn.org
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Christmas Star, Astronauts and the Moon Christmas  time  is  as  nostalgic  for  the  outer  space  buff  as  it  is  for  families  gathering  around  the  decorated  tree.  There  have  been  some  incredible  memories  in  NASA’s  50  years  of  Â?ƒÂ?Â?‡† •’ƒ…‡ Ď?Ž‹‰Š–ǥ „—– ˆ‡™ ”‹˜ƒŽ –Š‡ Ď?‹”•– ‘”„‹– ‘ˆ –Š‡ ‘‘Â? „› –Š”‡‡ men  aboard  Apollo  8  on  Christmas  Eve  1968.   To  a  live  evening  audience  that  Tuesday  on  Dec.  24th,  the  astronauts  took  turns  reading  from  the  Bible  Book  of  Genesis  as  a  video  camera  showed  the  rugged  lunar  landscape  below.  Those  astronauts  making  the  Ď?‹”•– ‘‘Â? ˜‘›ƒ‰‡ ƒ”‡ ƒŽŽ ƒŽ‹˜‡ and  certainly  thinking  of  that  memory  45  years  ago.   The  lasting  impression  to  the  world  is  the  iconic  image  of  the  Earth  rising  over  the  Moon’s  horizon  snapped  by  rookie  Bill  Anders  while  space  veterans  Frank  Borman  and  Jim  Lovell  watched  in  awe. Â
Apollo  8  was  a  thrilling  moment  when  the  world  was  truly  as  one  that  Christmas  thinking  of  three  men  orbiting  the  Moon  240,000  miles  away.  After  American  riots  following  the  assassination  of  civil  rights  leader  Martin  Luther  King  Jr.,  and  a  turn  for  the  worse  in  the  unpopular  Vietnam  War,  a  NASA  technician  radioed  up  to  the  Apollo  8  crew,  “Thanks  for  saving  1968.â€?  If  you  want  an  example  of  true  peace  on  Earth,  you  can  look  225  miles  above  at  the  six  astronauts  sharing  the  experience  of  their  lives  aboard  the  orbiting  International  Space  Station  (ISS).  This  will  be  the  ͳʹ–Š Š”‹•–Â?ĥ –Šƒ– •’ƒ…‡ Ď?Ž‹‡”• will  be  aboard,  and  the  current  Expedition  38  crew  is  a  great  example  of  the  harmony  in  space  exploration.  Those  space  pioneers  making  17  orbits  of  the  Earth  this  Christmas  Day  are  Japan  Aerospace Â
Exploration  Agency  (JAXA)  ƒ•–”‘Â?ƒ—– ‘‹…Š‹ ƒÂ?ƒ–ƒ ÇĄ Ď?Ž‹‰Š– engineer;  Russian  cosmonauts  Oleg  Kotov,  commander,  Mikhail  Tyurin,   and  Sergey  Ryazanskiy  and  NASA  astronauts  Rick  Mastracchio  and   Michael  Hopkins,  ƒŽŽ Ď?Ž‹‰Š– ‡Â?‰‹Â?‡‡”•Ǥ ƒ•–”ƒ……Š‹‘ and  Hopkins  will  perform  three  spacewalks,  including  one  Christmas  Day,  to  repair  a  failed  fuel  pump  on  the  ISS  cooling  system.  After  the  space  walk,  the  ISS  astronauts  will  enjoy  the  traditional  holiday  treats  from  America,  Russia  and  Japan,  including  Turkey,  dressing  and  gravy,  borsch  and  porridge,  rice  and  sweet  and  sour  soup,  and  maybe  some  pickled  eggs  and  mince  meat  pie.  Christmas  time  is  also  a  time  –‘ ”‡Ď?Ž‡…– ‘Â? –Š‡ ‡Â?† ‘ˆ –Š‡ ’‘ŽŽ‘ Moon  program  as  the  sixth  and  last  lunar  mission  returned  on  Dec.  19,  1972.  Apollo  17  concluded  a  great  chapter  in  man’s  quest  to  explore  the  unknown.  Since  astronauts  Gene  Cernan  and  Jack  Schmitt  stepped  off  the  surface  onto  their  spaceship,  no  more  humans  have  walked  on  the  Moon.   But  that  might  change  by  the  end  of  this  decade  as  China  has  an  accelerated  space  program  that  is  looking  to  2020  when  they  might  attempt  a  manned  Moon  landing.   This  Christmas  2013  the  Moon  has  a  new  earthly  visitor,  a  Chinese  robot  explorer  named  Chang’e  3  and  its  mini  rover  named  Jade  Rabbit.   Dec.  14th  the  spacecraft  made  a  perfect  touchdown  in  the  Sea  of  Rains,  with  a  260  pound,  six-Ââ€? wheeled  vehicle  being  deployed  for  at  least  a  3  month  mission.  The  rover,  named  after  the  Chinese  mythology  of  moon  goddess  Chang’e’s  pet  rabbit,  the  size  of  a  go-Ââ€?cart  and  has  cameras  and  a  scoop  to  sample  soil.   The  Jade  Rabbit,  technically  called  Yuyu,  and  the  Chang’e  3  lander  have  been  taking  photos  of  each  other  before  the  rover  goes  on  its  way.  And  orbiting  the  Moon  this  Christmas  2014  may  not  be  humans,  but  America’s  Lunar  Reconnaissance  Orbiter  is  in  it’s  jlj  year  sending  back  incredible  close-Ââ€? ups,  including  the  remains  of  Apollo  landing  sites  and  former  moon  spacecraft.   No  doubt  LRO  will  be  imaging  the  Chinese  landers.  In  the  1960s  at  the  dawn  of  the  Space  Age,  the  modern  world  was  ‹Â?Ď?Ž—‡Â?…‡† „› ƒŽ—Â?‹Â?—Â? Š”‹•–Â?ĥ Continued  on  page  23
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trees and silly movies like “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.” Today, the science fact being done by humans and robots rivals the ϐ Ǥ In 1999, seven astronauts on Space Shuttle Discovery spent a Christmas in space together. The STS-‐103 mission was the fourth
December 24, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 23 ϐ Telescope, replacing gyroscopes and protective thermal blankets. Those six veterans and one rookie astronauts had a combined 25 ϐ ǡ ϐ spacewalk. Christmas Day is the birthday of one of the most amazing humans ever to walk the Earth—no, not Jesus. (He was born in the Spring, probably 3 BC, as the Book of Matthew is the only known source). Sir Isaac Newton was born in Lincolnshire, England on Christmas Day 1642. He is in the argument as one of the greatest geniuses of history, and simply changed the world by discovering the basic principles and laws that govern our physical world. Newton invented ϐ (called Newtonians to this day), and discovered the spectrum of colors in white light. Many forget
Newton was also a Biblical scholar, and actually spent a lot of his time with alchemy—trying to create gold. Turning to the constellations of Christmas night, they include ϐ Ȅ Orion, Taurus, Gemini, Auriga and Cassiopeia. The 2013 holiday nights will have the Moon at Last Quarter and in the after midnight skies. After sunset, Venus is setting in the west while Jupiter rises in the east. The brightest star in the sky will also be above the southeast horizon, Sirius in Canis Major. It blazes like a white beacon, joined by Procyon above it and Betelgeuse to the right to form the Winter Triangle of stars. But the most famous star of Christmas, the celebrated “Star of Bethlehem,” is nowhere to be seen. The truth behind history’s most celebrated star is a complex story that involves astrology, magi looking for a Messiah and the planets Jupiter and Venus. For it is in the Summer of 4 BC that Jupiter and Venus fused as one brilliant star above the June evening twilight horizon.
That “conjunction” of the King of the Night (Jupiter) with the Fertility Queen (Venus) in the constellation Leo the Lion, regarded as a law giver ǡ ϐ impact to those sky watchers looking for a sign of world events. Such stargazers were the learned Zoroastrian Priests of ancient Shinar who traveled in a caravan to Israel to pay respects to a Hebrew King. Much is made of Christmas Day, and for good reason. But it is a day
ǡ ϐ in the day and starlight in the night. And amazing memories for all of us to share with family and friends. Then there are those handful of space men and women, who for them Christmas time will bring memories of the Earth below as ϐ adventures. The rest of us with ϐ look up for Santa and his reindeer among the stars.
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December 24, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 25 of all time. Last Quarter Moon is today at 8:48 am. Rising in Virgo at 1:30 am, the Moon will have reddish Mars above it and white star Spica below. Thurs. Dec. 26 In a telescope, Venus is a crescent as it is close to the Earth some 30 million miles away. This crescent might be seen by people with outstanding eyesight, so it is worth a try. The second planet is plunging to the horizon as it will be lost in the solar glare in just a few weeks. Fri. Dec. 27 Jupiter is one of the most interesting objects in a small telescope. Easy to see are the dark bands of clouds, the dark polar hoods and the four moons discovered by Galileo. These moons change position nightly—even by the hour—as they cross in front of and behind Jupiter.
Celestial events in the skies for the week of Dec. 24-‐30, 2013, as compiled for The Loafer by Mark D. Marquette. Christmas Week and the night sky and earthly landscape have been transformed into a winter wonderland. The birth of the Christian Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, has at the center of its mystery the celebrated Star of Bethlehem. Instead of a bright beacon as depicted on Christmas cards of the Nativity, the “Star” was most likely a series of events involving Jupiter and Venus passing closely together in 4 BC, signaling the sky watching “Magi” that a new leader of the Hebrews was about to happen. The bright stars of winter and familiar constellations that are easy to recognize make this a special time of year, both outside ± ǡ ϐ Ǥ Tues. Dec. 24 ϐ Ǩ ǣ͵Ͳ see Venus saying goodbye to the night as it slips below the horizon. Then turn around to the east and see 2nd brightest planet Jupiter rising with Gemini brother Pollux to its left. Only the Sun and Moon are brighter than these two planets. Wed. Dec. 25 Christmas Day. Also the birthday in 1642 of Sir Isaac Newton, one of the greatest geniuses
Sat. Dec. 28 Saturn and the Moon are next to each other in Libra the Scales, the only non-‐living creature in the Zodiac. They rise together at 4 am, and are vanquished by the dawn three hours later. Sun. Dec. 29 ϐ night. Orion is high in the southeast with its stars outlining shoulders, knees and a belt. Above is “V shape of stars that make up the head and horns of Taurus the Bull. And Jupiter is hanging out with bright Gemini brothers Pollux and Castor. Mon. Dec. 30 The Big Dipper is making its presence known as it stands on its handle in the northeast, turning like a dial on a clock as the night wears on. Opposite the Big Dipper are the distinct “W” shaped stars of Cassiopeia the Queen.
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Start the Kids Our Age MPCC To New Year 4th Friday Dance Offer Piloxing Jonseborough With A Hike Starting In Visitors Center January December 27th
Join Nature Program Coordinator Connie Deegan as she encourages participants to put their best foot forward and start the New Year fresh with a hike. The pace will be slow on this 2-‐mile hike, with stops and explanations of Buffalo Mountain’s winter environment. Bring your camera for a beautiful view of Johnson City from Huckleberry Knob. This free program will be held at Buffalo Mountain Park from 1-‐3 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 1. Hikers are asked to meet below the service road gate. Call Deegan at 283-‐5821 for more information.
KIDS OUR AGE will be the featured band for the 4th Friday Dance at the Jonesborough Visitors Center on December 27. Their music is always great and what better way to end the year than with good music and fun people! Music from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s brings back great memories as you dance or listen to this very popular group. Line dance lessons are given from 6:30-‐7:00, with the band playing from 7:00 til 10:00 p.m. Cost $6.00. For additional information call 423-‐952-‐0772.
M e m o r i a l Park Community Center, 510 Bert St., will offer Piloxing from 6-‐7 p.m. on Fridays beginning Jan. 10. Piloxing is a unique program that blends the power, speed, and agility of boxing with the targeted sculpting and ϐ Ǥ ǡ and this muscle-‐toning workout is guaranteed to leave participants feeling physically and mentally empowered. This program is open to ages 16 and older. Fee is $5 per class. Please call 434-‐5749 for more information.
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'HFHPEHU ‡ 7KH /RDIHU 3DJH
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
I’m  sure  most  movie  fans  and  those  who  have  read  “The  Hobbitâ€?  novel  remember  the  controversy  surrounding  the  release  of  the  2012  movie  “The  Hobbit:  An  Unexpected  Journeyâ€?.  How  could  the  book  possibly  be  made  into  a  trilogy?  What  has  director  Peter  ƒ…Â?•‘Â? ƒ††‡† –‘ –Š‡ Ď?‹ŽÂ? –Šƒ– wasn’t  in  the  book?  As  for  myself,  I  had  no  problem  with  Mr.  Jackson  embellishing  –Š‡ Ď?‹”•– Ď?‹ŽÂ?ÇĄ ƒˆ–‡” ƒŽŽ Š‡ Šƒ† tremendous  success  with  “The  ‘”† ‘ˆ –Š‡ ‹Â?‰•dz Ď?‹ŽÂ?•ǥ •‘ ‰‹˜‡ –Š‡ guy  a  break.  I  was  just  thrilled  he  was  once  again  taking  us  back  to  the  land  of  Middle  Earth.  The  second  of  the  three  Hobbit  Ď?‹ŽÂ?• Šƒ• Š‹– –Š‡ „‹‰ •…”‡‡Â?ÇĄ Dz Š‡
Hobbit:  The  Desolation  of  Smaugâ€?,  and  Mr.  Jackson  is  embellishing  once  more.  When  we  last  left  the  hobbit  Bilbo  (Martin  Freeman),  he  was  on  a  journey  to  help  some  dwarves  reclaim  their  homeland  of  Erebor,  which  was  overtaken  by  the  dragon  Smaug. Â
Â? –Š‡ Ď?‹”•– Ď?‹ŽÂ?ÇĄ ‹Ž„‘ came  into  possession  of  the  famous  ring,  known  as  “preciousâ€?,  that  wreaks  so  much  havoc  in  the  LOTR  movies.  Also  along  for  the  journey  is  our  favorite  wizard,  Gandlaf  (Ian  McKellen),  who  has  yet  to  discover  Bilbo  has  the  infamous  ring  in  his Â
possession.  As  their  journey  continues,  Bilbo  and  company  are  being  chased  by  the  vicious  and  ugly  Orcs  following  ‡˜‡Â?–• ˆ”‘Â? –Š‡ Ď?‹”•– Ď?‹ŽÂ?Ǥ Bilbo’s  band  eventually  comes  in  contact  with  the  Wood  Elves,  and  the  interaction  is  not  pleasant.  This  ‹• –Š‡ ’‘‹Â?– ‹Â? –Š‡ Ď?‹ŽÂ? ™Š‡”‡ ™‡ meet  an  all  new  character  created  ˆ‘” –Š‡ Ď?‹ŽÂ?ÇĄ ‡Žˆ ƒ—”‹‡Ž Č‹ ˜ƒÂ?‰‡Ž‹Â?‡ Lilly),  and  I  will  add  her  character  adds  much  to  the  story  line,  and  is  a  welcome  presence.  Š‹• ’ƒ”– ‘ˆ –Š‡ Ď?‹ŽÂ? ƒŽ•‘ „”‹Â?‰• back  the  elf  character  Legolas  (Orlando  Bloom)  from  the  LOTR  Ď?‹ŽÂ?•ǥ ƒÂ?† ‡Â?Œ‘›‡† Š‹• –‹Â?‡ ‹Â? –Š‡ Ď?‹ŽÂ? ĥ ™‡ŽŽǤ Tauriel  and  Legolas  make  a  great  team,  especially  when  dealing  with  Legolas’s  father,  Elvenking  Thranduil  (Lee  Pace).  In  addition  to  dealing  with  the  elves,  the  crew  is  still  felling  –Š‡ ”…•ǥ Ď?‹‰Š–‹Â?‰ ‘ˆˆ ‰‹ƒÂ?– spiders  (eek!),  and  the  humans  of  Lake-Ââ€?town.  Oh,  and  throw  in  the  character  Beorn  (Mikael  Persbrandt),  a  skin-Ââ€?changer  who  can  assume  the  appearance  of  a  great  black  bear.  All  of  the  aforementioned  is  even  before  we  meet  the  dragon  Smaug  (voiced  by  Benedict  Cumberbatch). Â
When  Bilbo  and  …‘Â?’ƒÂ?› Ď?‹Â?ƒŽŽ› ”‡ƒ…Š Erebor,  Smaug  is  awakened  and  is  in  no  mood  for  company.  Bilbo  and  the  dwarves  battle  Smaug,  and  the  battle  leads  to  the  cliff  hanger  ending  which  sets  up  the  next  installment.  Š‡ •‡…‘Â?† Ď?‹ŽÂ? ‹Â? –Š‡ series  is  in  action  over-Ââ€? drive,  and  just  slows  down  a  bit  for  some  new  character  introductions.  All  the  actors  are  wonderful,  and  Cumberbatch  is  perfect  as  the  voice  of  the  dragon.  Š‡ Ď?‹ŽÂ? ‹• •’‡…–ƒ…—Žƒ” ‹Â? Íľ ÇĄ and  is  well  worth  the  extra  cost  to  •‡‡ –Š‡ Ď?‹ŽÂ? ‹Â? –Š‡ ˆ‘”Â?ƒ–Ǥ
I  am  sure  there  will  still  be  those  who  are  appalled  by  the  additions  to  the  “Hobbitâ€?  story,  but  I  say  chill  out  and  enjoy  one  of  the  year’s  best  movies:  “The  Hobbit:  The  Desolation  of  Smaugâ€?.  (Rated  PG-Ââ€? 13)  A
Page 28, The Loafer • December 24, 2013
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Blue Christmas Lights
Despite all the tinsel and glow, all the shiny faces and families rushing around in their SUVs and minivans, ϐ of the year for some people. An example? Recently a friend of mine was talking about grocery shopping with her husband and children. She came across the seasonal display of Little Debbie cakes, and began to pick up two boxes to mail to her grandfather. Upon putting them in the cart, she remembered that her grandfather passed away this year, she quietly, and sadly, placed the boxes back on the shelf. Before you get me wrong, I’m not hating on Christmas. I love this time of the year, genuinely, not in a “Up next on the Donnie and Marie Christmas Special is Andy Ross and he’s gonna read that off some cue cards” way. I suppose why I feel a need to talk about this, is that I felt a little down last Christmas. It was odd, I didn’t even feel enthusiastic about making my annual Christmas Mix CD, which has become
something people actually look forward to. Seasonal Holiday Depression? Maybe. I hesitate to say that was it, but perhaps it was a mild version of it. My friend’s story about the Little Debbie cakes reminded me of this. Because it doesn’t matter how happy things around her might be this Christmas, there will be moments when she is reminded of her grandfather. It may be on Christmas Eve, or it may be when she turns and sees a photo of him, or catches a glimpse of his favorite ornament on the tree. Whenever it happens, she’ll be sad for a moment, and I feel like it may be that for more people than we realize. I know I feel a little this way again this year, because my grandmother is in the nursing ϐ Christmas. It breaks my heart to see her there. To see her one day and ϐ ǡ someone is having to feed her. It’s hard sometimes to deal with the juxtaposition of that, and the other residents in the home, with hopping into your car and hearing “Jingle Bells” on the radio. You see this, your friend’s heartbreak, and you think of how ridiculous it all is that this season starts with an event in which we shoot each other just to get a deal on a damn TV. When we die, no one is going to stand up and talk about how we once saved a lot of money in 2011. Instead, I would hope they would say what a good person we were, and how we made a point to make those who needed to feel less alone, less alone.
If we all took the amount of time and energy we spent to shove people out of the way for that TV, on actually helping people, we could make this world a better place. I suppose the point that I’m trying to make with all of this, is to tell you what I’d really like for Christmas. Humanity. I want a little more humanity in the world. I hinted at this a little bit at Thanksgiving, but I feel it’s ever more important at this time of year to mention it again. Small gestures, nothing too big, just more kindness in the world. It’s my sincere wish for you and your family to have a very Merry Christmas, and that the coming year will be much better for us all. However, do me one favor, and remember that there are those who are hurting, those who—despite not showing any sign of pain on their face—may be doing all they can to not cry this season. So let’s raise our glasses in hope. Hope for a better year to come, hope for those who will one day see light at the end of the tunnel, and hope that we all might—in our own little way— leave this world a better place than we found it. Merry Christmas to you all.
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Capturing (And Forgetting) Your Christmas Memories The controversial and iconoclastic Susan Sontag, writing in one of her most talked-‐about books, On Photography (1977), observed that “Photographs are a way of imprisoning reality. . . . One can’t possess reality, one can possess images—one can’t possess the present but one can possess the past.” She goes on point out something that sounds very contemporary: “Needing to have ϐ enhanced by photographs is an aesthetic consumerism to which everyone is now addicted. Industrial societies turn their citizens into image-‐junkies; it is the most irresistible form of mental pollution.” Sontag, who died in 2004, was writing her photography book based on the experiences of the pre-‐digital era, a world that had not yet discovered smartphones and mobile technology. Needless to say, her comments take on another layer of meaning now that we are immersed in a nearly constant ϐ ǡ
us (and including us) are addicted to capturing every moment of their existence and then uploading these images to Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube. Our smartphone cameras ϐ of images and we are faced with the ever-‐present problem of how to store and retrieve them. But how often do we reference them and remember the events to which they were once tied? This last question becomes especially relevant as we celebrate the season which has become so associated with capturing memories. Every opened present, every bite of delicious holiday food, every kiss under the mistletoe, and every New Year’s Eve debauchery-‐ -‐no doubt soon to be regretted but not recallable if Facebooked or Tweeted-‐-‐will be photographed and archived this week and the next. ϐ Dr. Linda Henkel has recently conducted a study (published in the Journal of Psychological Science) designed to answer the question of just how much photographs facilitate memory and what role they play in our lives. Her ϐ on the guided tour of ϐ ǯ Bellarmine Museum of Art she took with her students earlier this year. The rules are pretty simple: have 28 students look at 30 assigned museum objects, simply observing 15 and photographing 15 others. The next
day, the students are asked to recall details based on the method used. Dr. Henkel, after examining the results of her experiment, coined a new term “photo-‐taking impairment effect,” and ϐ the following summary: “If participants took a photo of each object as a whole, they remembered fewer objects and remembered fewer details about the objects and the objects’ locations in the museum than if they instead only observed the objects and did not photograph them.” Things are not quite this simple, however. Henkel also found that photographs could trigger memories more if the student had focused ϐ of the art object. Doing so even improved the recall of details not included in the photo. A recent report by “RealityCheck” raised some interesting questions about Henkel’s study. For instance, many photographs aren’t about capturing detail but about “registering an emotion.” Details aren’t that important when feelings and emotions are involved. “Many people still recall the feelings of something (a wedding, a birth, a summer) in great detail, even if they can’t remember the caterers ϐ Ǥdz ǡ people choose the subjects of their photographs (rather than being told what to capture, as Dr. Henkel instructed her students to do), details are usually better remembered. Another important thing to consider is that when we view photographs we might remember many things very imprecisely, while not recalling ϐ Ǣ ǡ we generally remember the forest but not the trees. And, I might add that when we view photographs we never remember events, but only our memories of events—memories that are almost always distorted and colored with intervening experiences, wishful thinking, and feelings of nostalgia and regret. Aside from the question of whether or not picture-‐taking leads to accurate recall (which I think
we can agree it doesn’t), there is another component of Dr. Henkel’s research that is more relevant. In an article written by Anna Mikulak, Dr. Henkel observes that “People so often whip out their cameras almost mindlessly to capture a moment, to the point that they are missing what’s happening right in front of them.” According to Henkel, “the ‘mind’s eye’ and the camera’s eye are not the same.” In this instance, picture-‐taking can actually get in the way of memory formation, because instead of authentic (whatever that is in our image conscious world) human interaction, we have only the photograph documenting the encounter that became merely a photo opportunity rather than a meeting of minds (or hearts). I ϐ weeks ago when I took a look at the ϐ Ȅ ǡ the photographer’s self-‐absorption prevents any meaningful memory formation. When we look at our ϐ ǡ what meaning will they have? Just like the pictures of food we so obsessively take these days (the subject of another recent column— seems like I am very obsessed with photography during this holiday ǡ ǯ ǫȌǡ ϐ bereft of any meaningful content, concerned as they are with very
shallow narcissistic displays. Henkel adds that the question of whether or not photographs enhance our memories is a moot point if we never actually examine the photographs we have taken. “Research has suggested,” says Henkel, “that the sheer volume and lack of organization of digital photos for personal memories discourages many people from accessing and reminiscing about them [because] in order to remember, we have to access and interact with the photos, rather than just amass them.” And, be honest, how often do you take the time to study and interact with the thousands of pictures you have taken? Like the steady stream of accumulating Emails, Facebook posts, and Tweets we receive every minute, pictures are being sucked into a giant void that is impervious to memory-‐making. So, in conclusion, I hope that the pictures you take during this holiday season become a meaningful part of your life rather than just a distraction or forever lost in the data banks of your devices. Hope you and your loved ones have a joyous and memory-‐laden Christmas holiday. See you next week with my usual end-‐of-‐year ϐ Ǥ
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